“A UNESCO City of Design must promote, among others, the architectural quality of newly constructed building on its territory. Organizing a public presentation of finalists in front of a jury, allows us to sensitize citizens on the architecture undeniable effect on our quality of life. A similar exercise will exhort the population to pay a particular attention to everything being created in Montréal”, declared Mrs. Élaine Ayotte, responsable de la culture, du patrimoine et du design au comité exécutif de la Ville de Montréal.

“It is with great pride and satisfaction that I see the Pierrefonds Public Library Project reaching a good end. After many years of hard work and careful studies on actual and future needs, we have finally reached our objective to offer Pierrefonds-Roxboro citizens a 21st Century Library thanks to the borough Culture, Sports, Leisure and Social Development Department and our precious collaborators at Ville de Montréal”, said Mrs. Monique Worth, Mayor of the Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

“This 3rd place library type project is designed as an important activity hub in the heart of the community while integrating the borough’s sustainable development values. The new Pierrefonds Public Library is distinguished by its respectful implementation that benefits existing landscapes such as the Richmond Garden and the Millennium Park”, declared Mr. Sergio Morales, Architect Associate at Chevalier Morales architectes.

On September 24, around 100 citizens, employees and design professionals had the privilege to attend the finalists public presentation in front of a jury presided by Mr. Jacques Plante, Architect and Associate Professor at Université Laval, author of numerous architecture books, and composed of Mrs. Phyllis Lambert, Architect and Founding Director and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Mr. Oscar Ramirez, Architect Associate at Cardin Ramirez Julien and designer of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, Mr. Michel Beaudry, Architect at Beaudry Architecte and member of the Pierrefonds-Roxboro Borough’s Architecture Committee, Mr. Dominique Jacob, Director of the Pierrefonds-Roxboro Culture, Sports, Leisure and Social Development Department, and Dr. Guylaine Beaudry, Acting Director of the libraries of Concordia University.

“The architecture competition is an extraordinary creation event of a rare intensity. In Quebec, Ville de Montréal, design capital, is a leader in this field. It contributes to the creation of young architectural firms, the renewal of established ones and especially the definition and recognition of a distinct architectural identity across Quebec. The new Pierrefonds-Roxboro public library project conceived by Chevalier Morales architectes and DMA architectes Consortium, reflects with vigor, boldness, originality and uniqueness an architectural identity that is being slowly forged in Quebec and of which we can be collectively proud”, declared Mr. Jacques Plante, President of the architecture competition jury.

Next steps
The borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro will begin the plans and specifications preparation process according to which the renovation and expansion work will be undertaken.

The project
The work includes a complete renovation of the existing building and an extension of 2,316 m2. The new facilities will include the integration of new technologies and a radio-frequency identification system to facilitate documents management and to offer self-service loans and returns. In addition, the values of sustainable development will be integrated within the project designed to receive the LEED Gold
certification. This project is part of the Programme de rénovation, d’agrandissement et de construction des bibliothèques publiques de Montréal (RAC) de l’Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal. The ministère de la Culture et des Communications and Ville de Montréal will jointly contribute with $14 million. The remaining $4.4 million will be paid by the borough, also responsible for the operational costs.

Information
For more information about the competition, please visit: mtlunescodesign.com

Sarah Shirley
Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif
Ville de Montréal
514 872-5628